Why should I use Gelato instead of Printful for EU buyers?

Gelato has local production in 30+ EU countries, so EU buyers get fast (2-5 day) shipping with no customs delays or cross-border VAT awkwardness. Printful's EU production is concentrated in 1-2 facilities, which still works but adds shipping time. For Etsy shops with significant EU volume, Gelato's local network is a real advantage.

Does Gelato do A-series sizing natively?

Yes — A-series (A4, A3, A2, A1) is Gelato's native wall art sizing for the EU market. They also offer imperial sizing for US/UK markets. EU buyers expect A-series; US buyers expect 8x10 / 11x14 / 16x20. Output both from the same master via batch processing for max market coverage.

What DPI does Gelato require?

300 DPI for posters, canvas, photo books, greeting cards, mugs. 150 DPI minimum for apparel (DTG t-shirts, hoodies) — 300 DPI ideal. Gelato reads embedded DPI metadata; a high-resolution file with 72 DPI metadata gets flagged. Use a 300 DPI metadata stamp tool — Ratio Ready stamps every output automatically.

Should I upload sRGB or CMYK to Gelato?

Gelato requires images to be uploaded in the sRGB color space because their printing process relies on converting from RGB to CMYK internally, ensuring accurate color reproduction. If you upload CMYK files, the colors might shift due to Gelato applying a second conversion, resulting in an inaccurate final product. For example, if you design a printed poster sized 18x24 inches at 300 DPI in sRGB, Gelato will handle the conversion smoothly and produce vibrant colors. The best practice is to create your designs with an RGB workspace set to sRGB and provide files at a resolution of 300 DPI to guarantee sharp, well-colored prints without unexpected shifts.

What bleed does Gelato want on greeting cards?

Gelato requires a bleed of 3mm on all four sides for greeting cards to ensure printers have enough image extending beyond the trim edge, preventing unwanted white borders. For instance, a standard 5x7 inch (127x178 mm) card should be supplied as 133x184 mm including bleed. Designers accustomed to using 0.125 inch (3.175 mm) bleed are also within Gelato’s acceptance range. If you upload artwork exactly at the trim size, the printer will cut into your design, possibly cropping important elements. To avoid this, always add the 3mm bleed in your files, extending backgrounds and artwork beyond trim lines.

Can Gelato print custom photo books?

Yes — Gelato's photo book product is one of their strongest. Multi-page PDF in PDF/X-1a format, 3mm bleed, embedded fonts. Sizes from A5 to A4. Popular for portfolio products on Etsy. Files must be exported correctly (Illustrator: Save As PDF → PDF/X-1a:2001 preset) — third-party flat PDFs often get rejected.

Does Gelato handle EU VAT for me?

Yes, Gelato manages EU VAT collection by charging it directly to buyers within the European Union depending on local tax thresholds. This feature significantly reduces the administrative burden for sellers and avoids issues with unexpected charges for customers. For example, when an Etsy seller based outside the EU ships a product, Gelato handles VAT at checkout, ensuring hassle-free delivery to buyers in countries like Germany or France. Because Gelato takes care of VAT compliance and remittance, sellers do not need to register for VAT in each country, simplifying taxes and allowing focus on growing their store with peace of mind.

Can I use the same designs on Gelato and Printful?

You can absolutely use the same design files for both Gelato and Printful, which many Etsy sellers do to optimize fulfillment across different regions. For example, designers often use Gelato for printing and shipping to customers in Europe because Gelato supports A-series paper sizes, while Printful covers the US and other global markets using imperial sizes like letter or 8.5x11 inches. With tools like Ratio Ready, you can batch-generate files tailored for Gelato’s A-series specifications alongside Printful’s imperial dimensions in one workflow, ensuring consistent branding but meeting each platform’s technical requirements efficiently.

Platform Guide

Print-Ready Images for Gelato

Gelato is the EU-leading print-on-demand network with local production in 30+ countries. This guide covers per-product upload specs, DPI requirements, and the format gotchas that get prints rejected or downgraded.

Try Free — 50 Credits

Built for sellers on

Etsy Amazon Redbubble Printify Society6

Gelato is one of the largest print-on-demand networks globally, with particular strength in Europe — they have local production facilities in 30+ countries, which means EU buyers get prints from a local printer (no cross-border shipping, no customs delays). This makes Gelato a popular choice for Etsy/Shopify sellers targeting EU markets specifically.

Like Printful (and unlike Redbubble), Gelato uses per-product print files. Each product class has its own pixel spec, format, and DPI minimum. This guide covers the full spec table plus the most common upload failures.

File requirements

Product Type	Print Area (px)	DPI	Format	Notes
Poster A4 (210x297mm)	2,481 x 3,507	300	JPG / PNG / PDF	Most popular Gelato product; standard A-series sizing for EU
Poster A3 (297x420mm)	3,507 x 4,960	300	JPG / PNG / PDF	Common gallery size for European buyers
Poster A2 (420x594mm)	4,960 x 7,016	300	JPG / PNG / PDF	Statement piece; needs high-res source
Poster A1 (594x841mm)	7,016 x 9,933	300	JPG / PNG / PDF	Largest standard A-size; AI upscaling often required
Canvas 30x40cm	3,602 x 4,803	300	JPG / PNG / PDF	Gallery wrap edges add 2cm — extend artwork or solid color edge
Canvas 50x70cm	5,906 x 8,268	300	JPG / PNG / PDF	Most popular Gelato canvas size; same wrap rules
T-Shirt (DTG, Front)	4,725 x 5,906	150 min, 300 ideal	PNG (transparent)	Standard front-print area; transparent bg required for fabric show-through
Hoodie (DTG, Front)	4,725 x 5,906	150 min	PNG (transparent)	Same print area as t-shirt; same transparency rules
Mug 11oz	2,475 x 1,155	300	PNG / JPG	Standard mug wrap; handle area = 1.25 inch print-free zone
Photo Book (page)	Varies by size	300	PDF (multi-page)	Must include 3mm bleed; PDF/X-1a preferred
Greeting Card 5x7	1,500 x 2,100	300	JPG / PNG / PDF	Standard 5x7 with 3mm bleed (final 1,560 x 2,160)
Sticker Sheet A6	1,240 x 1,748	300	PNG (transparent)	Transparent PNG for die-cut shapes

Gelato uses metric (mm/cm) sizing as native — most popular product is A4/A3 posters for European buyers. 300 DPI on all wall art and decor; 150 DPI minimum on apparel.

Metric vs imperial sizing — why it matters on Gelato

Gelato's product catalog is metric-first. The standard wall art sizes are A-series (A4, A3, A2, A1) — not US Letter or 8x10/11x14/16x20. If your designs are imperial-only, you're under-serving Gelato's primary EU market.

A-series sizes are based on a √2 aspect ratio: every A-size is exactly half the next (A4 = half of A3 = quarter of A2). The aspect ratio is roughly 1:1.414. This is different from imperial wall art ratios (8x10 = 1:1.25, 11x14 = 1:1.27, 16x20 = 1:1.25, 18x24 = 1:1.33).

For sellers targeting both US and EU markets: design at the largest A-size your master allows (A1 at 7,016 x 9,933 px = 9,933 long edge), then output both A-series (Gelato) and imperial (Printful, Printify) variants from the same master via batch processing.

A-series + imperial dual-output

Drop your master into Ratio Ready. Target both metric (A4, A3, A2, A1) and imperial (8x10, 11x14, 16x20, 18x24) wall art outputs in one job. Get back two folders — list on both EU-leaning Etsy/Gelato and US-leaning Etsy/Printful from the same source.

Local production = different paper / different gamut

Gelato's local production model means EU buyers get prints from EU printers (Spain, Germany, Sweden, etc.); US buyers get prints from US printers; AU buyers get prints from AU printers. The advantage: shorter shipping, lower cost, fewer customs hassles. The catch: paper stocks and ink color profiles vary slightly by region.

Most Gelato facilities use ICC-profiled printers calibrated to industry standards (FOGRA39 for matte, GRACoL for glossy), so color reproduction is generally consistent. But premium subtleties (deep navy, rich black, vivid orange) can shift slightly between regional facilities. For brand-color-critical work, order proofs from each region you sell to.

Practical rule: design in sRGB at 300 DPI. Gelato's pipeline converts to the local facility's CMYK profile. Avoid pure-saturation colors (#FF0000, #00FF00, #0000FF) — they don't reproduce well in CMYK and shift between regional facilities. Stick to slightly desaturated palettes for predictable cross-region consistency.

Common Gelato upload failures

Gelato's validator catches:

Missing 3mm bleed on greeting cards / photo books. Gelato uses 3mm bleed (not the imperial 0.125 inch / 3.175mm). Close enough for most workflows, but always confirm the file extends 3mm beyond the trim line on all 4 sides.
DPI metadata not 300 on wall art. Gelato reads embedded DPI tags. A 5,000-pixel JPG with 72 DPI metadata gets flagged even though the dimensions are fine. Use a 300 DPI metadata stamp tool — Ratio Ready stamps every output automatically.
CMYK files for digital products. Gelato expects sRGB for upload, not CMYK. Their pipeline converts to local CMYK during print. Submitting CMYK pre-converted causes double-conversion and washed-out colors.
Apparel images below 150 DPI. T-shirts and hoodies need at least 150 DPI at the print area (300 DPI ideal). Below 150, Gelato warns of poor print quality. Below 100, the upload is rejected.
Photo book PDFs without proper PDF/X-1a structure. Photo books require multi-page PDFs in PDF/X-1a format with embedded fonts and 3mm bleed. Gelato's exporter helps but third-party PDFs need proper export settings (Illustrator: Save As PDF → PDF/X-1a:2001).

EU-targeted Etsy strategy with Gelato fulfilment

Gelato pairs particularly well with Etsy shops targeting EU buyers:

A-series wall art bundles. List one design with A4, A3, A2, A1 size options. EU buyers pick the size that fits their frame (A-series frames are universal in EU). Gelato fulfils from local facility — fast, cheap, no customs.
EU-themed designs (cities, regions, languages). Paris, Berlin, Stockholm, Barcelona — local-themed wall art performs well on EU Etsy. Multi-language listing variants (EN/DE/FR/ES) widen the addressable market.
Dual-fulfilment shops. Use Gelato for EU orders, Printful for US orders. Same designs, different fulfilment per region. Etsy Shipping Profiles let you set this up cleanly.
VAT-handled. Gelato collects EU VAT directly from EU buyers, simplifying tax compliance for the shop. Compare to shipping from US where the buyer handles import VAT awkwardly.

Multi-region launch from one master

Drop master design into Ratio Ready. Target Gelato A-series + Printful imperial wall art + Printify mug + listing PDF — get back fully organised ZIPs per platform. Launch to EU and US Etsy in parallel, fulfilment routes to local facility per buyer's region.